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Parents hoping for an extension of Elterngeld parenting payments are set to be disappointed, with Family Minister Kristina Schröder reportedly ditching a plan for the number of “fathers' months” to be doubled.

A Family Ministry spokesman told the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung's Monday edition that “for economic reasons, an enhancement of the Elterngeld is not going to be presented for the moment.”

Also, Schröder's parliamentary state secretary, Hermann Kues, told the family committee of the Bundestag that changes to the payments could not be expected, the paper reported.

At present, a couple can get the parenting payment for up to 14 months after the birth of a child. Specifically, one parent can receive payments for up to 12 months, but the government will pay a further two months' worth if the second parent – usually the father – also applies.

These so-called “fathers' months” were supposed to be extended under the coalition agreement between Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).

CDU members of the Bundestag have called for the number of fathers' months to be doubled to four.